‘NOT LIKE BRYSON De Chambeau,’ jokes Jordan Larmour.
Although a few months in lockdown did bring ample time to put on strength, if not weight, as well as a huge amount of space to work at ensuring other elements of his game were kept in tune.
Golf’s newly bulked-up title-challenger has raised many an eyebrow, but for the most part rugby players on these shores have been coming through sport’s shutdown aerobically fitter, rather than heavy and battle-hardened.
The season ahead will offer plenty of opportunity to redress that balance.
For a player like Larmour, the ability make his way around the pitch with economy of effort would make for an even more dangerous prospect. The side-stepping fullback had already been showing impressive willingness to step into the line and act as an extra playmaker for Leinster. Continuing that trend with a hectic schedule ahead of both Ireland and his province could only take a weight of responsibility away from the key men at half-back. Or rather, the key man in the attacking setup of both Larmour’s teams.
The fullback does not agree that Jonathan Sexton carries too much onus and responsibilty to dictate matches for his teams, but he is more than happy to show his wares as a creative element within the attack. An element that would offer more space to Sexton, Joey Carbery or whoever gets a run as Ireland’s 10 this autumn.
“I think in training, you can always work on different things. Stepping up playing first receiver, second receiver – you can do that in training no bother.
“It’s definitely something I’ve been working on in training. It’s a bit different to when you’re playing first or second receiver than when you’re out on the wing or in the outside channels. It’s definitely a skill I need to keep working on.”
Still just 23, Larmour has made brushing up on skills his summer project.
“During lockdown, nearly every day I was picking different skills to work on. I worked on all of them.
“Did a good bit of working on my kicking during the lockdown up at a field near my house. Did some high-ball work. A lot of hand-eye coordination stuff. Just trying to keep that ticking over because it’s an important skill to keep improving.
“When we came back into rugby, you didn’t want to be starting from scratch again having not touched a rugby ball in however many weeks it was. So, I think it was important to keep that ticking over every day, just pick something to do, get a rugby ball in my hands.”
If he is to work as a second playmaker for Ireland as well as Leinster, the prospect of him working in tandem with James Lowe on both fronts is a tantalising one.
In an autumn schedule will test players in all nations ability to sustain effort on the back of an extended hiatus, attacking x-factor in the form of Larmour and Lowe could prove invaluable.
“I didn’t really know much about James Lowe before he came over. I think everyone knows about him now. He’s had a huge impact in Leinster, both on and off the pitch. He’s a big character but yeah, his rugby really does the talking. He shows up every game.
“He puts his best foot forward. He’s had a huge impact on Leinster. Even just getting to learn off him and pick his brains about things. He’s been really good to work with. He’s had a massive impact on Leinster. We’ll wait and see what happens in the future.
“His style of how he plays the game is very good… he’d have a big impact on (any) team and how they’re playing. I think the same impact that he had on Leinster, he could bring to Ireland because he’s such a good player. So it’s exciting.”
Mostly good news all round. There’ll always be a few niggles so it’ll be great to have more or less a full strength team to pick from come next weekend providing andy farrell lets the teams pick who they want.
Fancy a 23 to look something like
Killer
Scannell
Ryan
Snyman
Kleyn
O mahony
O donoghue
Stander
Murray
Hanrahan
Earls
De Allende
Farrell
Conway
Gallagher
Loughman
Marshall
Knox
Wycherley
O donnell
Casey
Scannell
Daly
@Jim Demps: Would prefer to see Knox in ahead of Ryan from the get go. Beirne and carbery then to come in for kleyn and hanrahan when they are fit.
Hopefully gallagher is the man to add a bit of spark to the fullback position.
@Jim Demps: that’s a strong team. I think the 2 centers are going to rip it up this season.
@Gareth Ward: both you and Jim’s sides are missing an openside. Cj has a very high tackle count as does JOD but both tackle close to the ruck. Neither really help the backline defence out wide.
Another problem without joey is a lack of creativity so smash it up the middle and boxkick will be game plan.
@Chris Mc: Im sure jod can move a few steps to the side. Plenty of turnover treat anyway if o’mahony, stander and beirne are all in the team
@Gareth Ward: turnovers has never been Munsters problem. I’m talking about helping the outside backs defend.
@Chris Mc: it’s grand, we’ll pick up whichever one of the Leinster 7s doesn’t make the big game squads at the end of the season.
For what it’s worth if Tommy can stay fit he’s as good as any of them. If though.
@Jim Demps: when fit Tommy is could but his ceiling is nowhere near Leavy’s
@Jim Demps: I was a big fan of TOD but he’s not really at the highest levels for a while. Hopefully the break will have done him good, recharge the batteries so to speak. Still I don’t think your getting any of leinsters backrows any time soon.
That’s a pity for Beirne but hopefully he’ll still be fit to feature before the end of the club season and for Ireland. He’d potentially be a big loss for Ireland with Ryan injured and would have been expected to see some decent gametime.
There’s a lot of guys on the Munster injury list which is odd considering there has been limited contact training.